When my sales rep came to me with Cavallotto's legendary Bricco Boschis Barolo, I knew from the first sniff that I was in a for a treat! We're talking about one of the top Nebbiolo sites in the Piemonte along with one of the region's most acclaimed producers.
I happily took my allocation, and for the few who get this into their glass, you'll understand why. This is so pretty, so finely detailed, and the cooler 2018 vintage imbued this wine with finesse, vibrancy, and refinement.
2018 Cavallotto 'Bricco Boschis' Barolo
95 points Wine Enthusiast, 95 points Jeb Dunnuck, 94 points Decanter
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Like Burgundy, Barolo is one of the more detail-oriented wine regions in the world. With 11 different communes and numerous crus, or vineyards, it takes a bit of studying to understand it all. Click here for a crash course in Barolo.
Also like Pinot Noir from Burgundy, the Nebbiolo grape that is responsible for Barolo produces some of the most sublimely aromatic red wines on the planet. Cavallotto's monopole Bricco Boschis is a prime example of Nebbiolo's aromatic prowess. What's a monopole you ask? It's a single vineyard with just one owner. That owner, since 1928, has been the Cavallotto clan.
That's right, the Cavallotto Family organically farm some old and well-rooted Nebbiolo vines near the top of this prized site in the commune of Castiglione Falletto. Located at 300 meters, you can pretty much see all of Barolo on a clear day. This well-exposed site is renowned for producing richly structured wines with an emphasis on elegance, aromatics, and longevity.
I know Vintage 2018 was not considered an A+++ one in Italy's Piemonte, but it's not like it was a bad year by any means. Sure, it was a bit cooler, but the year produced wines that Wine Spectator described as "fresh, elegant Barolos, open-knit with vibrant acidity, light tannins and expressive fruit and floral flavors for earlier drinking." That's good news folks! You don't have to wait 10 to 20 years to enjoy this one!
I certainly didn't wait. When my sales rep Joseph Schwabauer of Kellogg Wines dropped a bottle off, I decanted it all day. I'd go by every hour or so and give it a swirl, and by the end of the day, this stuff was downright enchanting. Soaring aromas of rose petal, cigar box, forest berry, orange zest, juniper, and Earl Grey tea were just a handful of notes I pulled out of this one. It's certainly structured, but the coolness of the vintage resulted in more fine-grained tannins and softer acidity.
Will it age? Of course it will! Most critics agree that the drinking window on this one is 2023 through 2040. If you want to enjoy on the younger side, make sure to decant for 4 to 5 hours and enjoy it with lamb chops, mushroom risotto, or ossobuco....something with plenty of fat.
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Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville